North One East

Wheatley Hills 23 – 22 Percy Park

Despite Park scoring 4 tries to Wheatley’s 3, they went down by a single point which was in the main a combination of not converting crucial kicks and gifting penalties for moments of indiscipline.

Park had an early penalty kick at goal but the ball drifted wide, however soon after Ali Blair was gifted an interception which he gratefully accepted, running half the length of the pitch to score on 11 minutes. Toby Davison’s conversion attempt hit the right post and bounced out.

Wheatley hit back with 2 tries in 2 minutes, the first coming from Number 8 Tom White, and the second another interception which saw James Montgomery stride in under the posts for a try which was converted by Owen Gilvray to give his side a 12 – 10 lead after 20 minutes.

The visitors came back with a catch and drive try with Joe Wafer getting the touch down and Davison kicked the extras to level the scores which was how the half finished 12 – 12.

NORTH 1 EAST

PERCY PARK 7 – 16 ALNWICK

Park lost their season’s unbeaten home league record going down to Alnwick who have now won their last 4 league games and are pulling themselves up to mid table in North 1 East. The game was moved to the nearby Kings Priory School pitch as the high winds had brought down one of the posts on the 1^st XV pitch, and for the match the wind speed had reduced from hurricane to a mere gale force.

Percy Park had won the earlier encounter at Alnwick, but with their recent improved form the visitors were looking for another win

Alnwick had the slight slope advantage and some benefit from the cross wind in the first half and the game was tight for the first 20 minutes before James Bird put his side ahead with a penalty.

Alnwick kept up the pressure in Park territory and were rewarded with an Elliot try on 27 minutes after several phases of play. Bird kicked the conversion then on half time kicked a penalty to give his side a 13 – 0 lead at the interval.

Both sides tackled their hearts out on a cold dreary day, with many supporters returning to the shelter and warmth of the clubhouse. The die-hards were rewarded with an Andy Dunn try 10 minutes into the second period after a solid catch and drive from a line out in the Alnwick 22.

Park turned down a kickable penalty opportunity for a kick to the corner, hoping to keep up the pressure on the Alnwick pack with another catch and drive, but stout defence kept Park out.

Alnwick lengthened their lead with another Bird penalty on 54 minutes, and for the next half hour or so both teams battered each other into submission, with no further additions to the score.

In the end Alnwick well deserved their win, and hope to keep up their unbeaten run next Saturday against league leaders Sheffield.

Park make the trip to Wheatley Hills hoping to regroup to maintain their second place spot in the league.

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NORTH 1 EAST

 HORDEN 15 – 39 PERCY PARK

Park took the relatively short journey down the A19 to Welfare Park to take on Horden who currently prop up North 1 East. With Percy Park lying second in the league and having already beaten the hosts earlier in the season the expectations were that Park would have an easy win, however that was not to be the case.

Horden kicked off with all the elements in their favour, wind, slope and sun at their backs. The pitch was in good nick and the home side pinned Park down in their own 22 for the first 5 minutes before being awarded a penalty which right wing Craig Jones slotted to give his side an early lead.

From the re-start Park attacked up the hill and looked to have scored as Howard Stock making his season’s debut in the 1^st XV crossed the line, only for the try to be ruled out as play was brought back for a Horden penalty.

The game was officiated by an exchange referee from Yorkshire who was being assessed. It soon became evident that the priority of the day was to be policing the put in at the scrum. Jimmy Baldwin was penalised for feeding and Horden were awarded a free kick. This was escalated to a full penalty at the next scrum as referee Simon Park deemed the infringement a deliberate repeat of the previous free kick. Up stepped Jones to kick his side further in front 6 – 0.

NORTH 1 EAST

PERCY PARK 21 – 11 POCKLINGTON

Pocklington made the journey from East Yorkshire from their home on Percy Road to Percy Park, looking to bounce back from a shock home defeat last week at the hands of West. Pock have the stingiest defensive record in the league, and that was certainly on show during a fairly uneventful first 20  minutes, in which the visitors on balance had more of the ball.

With low light conditions expected and the visitors in blue and white hoops, Park changed to red shirts.

Ash Smith and Jack Walters traded penalties on 2 and 9 minutes before Park went into a 6 – 3 lead at the end of the first quarter with another Smith penalty after Pocklington were penalised for not releasing the tackled player.

Percy Park scored their first try of the game after a solid scrum near the visitor’s line. Pock are renowned for their strong scrummage, but from the off, their pack were going backwards and on this occasion looked to be on castors. With a command of “use it” from the referee, Park were unable to drive Pock over the line, and Sean Williamson was stopped short, but from the ruck that ensued, John Scott picked up and dummied his way through a gap to score under the posts. Ash Smith converted to move Park ahead 13 – 3.